MOBILE, Ala. (September 2, 2021) – They say that all good things come to those who wait, so the 2021 season should be very good for the Spring Hill College (SHC) women's soccer team after opting out of the 2020 fall and spring seasons due to the Novel Coronavirus Global Pandemic.

SHC head coach Emily Marcouiller has been pleased with the way the Badgers have been performing after a full week of practice. "Things are shaping up well," she says. "We had a great preseason where the team worked extremely hard. The girls are really challenging one another in every session. The intensity and consistency in training has been superb on both sides of the ball. We have a more versatile group than in recent years with many of the girls able to play multiple positions. That will really enhance our depth and strategic options during the season."

Marcouiller believes that the year off has not had any harmful effects on the Badgers going forward. "The team is excited to be back to some degree of normalcy," she comments. "We trained hard in our limited number of spring games against some talented teams. We grew from that.  And now, the girls are growing and learning in every training session."

So far, SHC has tried to approach the new season just as they would any other year. "We have not changed anything regarding routine," says Marcouiller. "The girls knew and expected that we would be 'full go' when they returned to camp this fall. I am very pleased with their preparation work over the summer. It's obvious that they took ownership of themselves and held teammates accountable to return ready to compete at the highest level possible."

What has impressed Marcouiller the most in the early going is the attitude of this year's team. "As a group, the girls have returned with greater physical strength and mental toughness," she says. "This is an extremely close-knit group and one of the closest teams I have coached here at Spring Hill. They put the team first and care more about the team's success than their own."

To the casual observer, the SHC roster might look inexperienced despite featuring 18 returners. "Our youth does not bother me one bit," states Marcouiller. "We have a talented group of freshmen that are really stepping up. They arrived at camp in top physical condition and have been very aggressive in our sessions. They are not intimidated and are ready for action. And our redshirt freshmen have worked long and hard to prepare for their first season of college soccer. They all want to make an impact. It's exciting to see."

Marcouiller sees this class of newcomers as having an immediate effect on Badger fortunes. "Every one of them will make an impact in some form," she says. "They are a talented group and each one brings a special skill to the team. They want to contribute immediately and that's why they are here at Spring Hill."

SHC fans should not just see the 2021 Badgers as a group of hungry new cubs. Marcouiller stresses that the immediate fate of this team lies within the hands of her veterans. "The upperclassmen and redshirt sophomores have been fantastic," she says. "They have collectively stepped up as a group. They understand that last season was out of their control, but learned to focus on what they could control, like improving their skills, conditioning, and getting better.  As we move into the season, the upperclassmen must demonstrate and establish an even higher level of player accountability to accomplish our goals. We need their leadership and mentoring for the team to take the next step."

As with every year, the Gulf South Conference (GSC) will feature a schedule peppered with some of the toughest NCAA Division II opponents possible, but Marcouiller does not waste time worrying. "Honestly, we haven't even thought about that," she shrugs. "There is no value in thinking that far in advance.  Every game in the conference is a challenge and we will always just focus on the next game. We must get better every day, and if we do, we will be ready for the next game, and every game of the season."

Marcouiller finishes her thoughts with a word to Badger fans. "This team is an extremely special group that is fun to watch," she says. "They are a team that doesn't back down from a challenge.  They are a hungry, gritty, fight to the end team that wants to win and will not stop until the final whistle. They believe teams count them out, but that adds fuel to their fire and makes them want it even more."

The Badgers open the 2021 regular season at 7 p.m. (eastern) on Saturday in Milledgeville, Ga. at the Bobcat Kickoff Classic versus the hosting Georgia College Bobcats (6-10-2 in 2019) at Bobcat Field.